How to Tie a Four in Hand Knot

Neckties date back to the "cravat" neckcloths sported by the fearless Croatian soldiers during the Thirty Years War. Since then men have worn various neckwear for formal occasions. Young boys wear clip-on or zip-up neckties. As they mature, they learn to tie their own neckties with knots. Since the mid-19th century, men have secured their neckwear by emulating the knot used by the members of London's trendsetting Four in Hand club.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Tie

1. 
    
   Loop around your neck

   Loop the necktie around your neck, with the wide end and the narrow end hanging in front of you. Right-handed gentlemen, the wide end usually falls on the left side. For best results, drape the wide end eight or twelve inches below the narrow end.

2. 
    
   Pull the wide end over the narrow end

   Cross the wide end over the narrow end, and then pull it around and behind the narrow end. Repeat.

3. 
    
   With practice this will be automatic

   Pull the knot away from your neck. Thread the wide end up under the narrow end between your neck and the knot.

4. 
    
   Length is important

   Adjust the length. The wide end should be about four inches longer than the narrow end.

5. 
    
   "Too tight" jokes are customary at this point.

   With your index finger, hold the front loop of the knot away from the back.

6. 
    
   Down and out

   Pass the wide end of the necktie down inside the knot and out the bottom.

7. Adjust the length if necessary.

Tips & Warnings

• The wide end wraps around twice, then up and back down.
• If you really can't get the hang of it, fold the necktie carefully and put it in your pocket. Other men at your destination will remember their first attempts to tie a tie. They will coach you in the restroom.
• Silky ties are easier to tie than rough ones.
• The wider the tie, the harder it is to knot neatly.
• The length of your tie is important. The tip of the end should just touch your belt buckle or pants. If it drops below the waist of your trousers, retie it, adjusting the length. If the narrow end of the necktie is now longer than the thick end, tuck it into your shirt between buttons. If the wide end does not reach your waistline, retie it, bringing the wide end down. You may find that you do not have enough thin end left over to knot. If so, you need a longer necktie.
• Necktie knots can be security hazards. Pilots and some other professionals are required to wear neckties that tear away.

Resources

• Four in Hand Knot
• Four in Hand Video Demonstration
• How the Four in Hand Got Its Name